The Bhadels of Goa are women porters who work in the south Goan city of Margao. The occupation has been handed down generations through women in the family -either daughters or daughters-in-law.

Nobody from the younger generation has taken up the occupation. “Our daughters are not interested in this work, they have studied a little, so want to work in offices,“ says Maria Borges. There are currently only a dozen or so Bhadels working in Margao market, all are over 50 years in age.Although it is believed that Bhadels used to work in other Goan markets in the distant past, there are limited records, restricted to mention in folk songs.

The women make the daily bus commute from villages neighbouring Margao city, such as Borda and Fatorda. They reach the market at varying times, from 8 am to 10 am after completing their household chores, and return by 6.30 pm.

Store owners as well as shoppers use the services of the Bhadels to carry goods and heavy loads. The introduction of the
Konkan railway in the late 1990s brought in migrant workers from neighboring states, affecting the women's earnings. Sturdy young men were tough to compete with, leaving the women without work.But some local merchants still swear by the trustworthiness of the Bhadels. They leave their shops open in their care and do not hesitate to send them to the bank to deposit large sums of money .

The Bhadels earn anything between Rs 50 and 200 a day. As per current rates, carrying a medium sized shopping bag will fetch three rupees, hauling a steel cupboard will bring in Rs 50 to be divided by the number of women involved and carrying 50-kg goods will earn them Rs 20.

In 2011, as part of events to commemorate 50 years of liberation from Portuguese rule, the Goan government recognized the services of those Bhadels who worked in this occupation for over 25 years. They were given a onetime honorarium of Rs 25,000.Although the women can apply for government pension schemes for senior citizens, the Bhadels are proud workers who have so far shied away from taking help.